Lone Mountain preservation tractRutherford County

The Lone Mountain tract is located at the southwest end of the South Mountains of Burke, Cleveland, McDowell and Rutherford counties. Purchase of this property expanded the South Mountains Game Lands. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission manages the tract for public uses, including hunting, fishing, hiking and nature study. Biological significance is derived from the existence of seven rare plant species populations.

Together with South Mountains State Park, the largest state park in North Carolina, the Lone Mountain tract and the state game land forms a significant area of contiguous conservation lands. Partners with EEP in the acquisition included the N.C. Natural Heritage Trust Fund and the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The entire tract helps to ensure the environmental integrity of the area, and protects the headwater streams that flow into the city of Rutherfordton’s water supply.

Acres: 751

Acquisition date: 9/2004

High Quality Preservation:

To qualify as high quality preservation sites, each parcel was approved for acquisition by an interagency committee comprised of staff from conservation organizations and regulatory agencies. These preservation sites add to existing conserved lands, contain critical habitats and rare or endangered species, protect outstanding resource waters and water-supply watersheds, or are significant natural areas.

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The N.C. Ecosystem Enhancement Program's mission is to restore and protect North Carolina’s natural resources for future generations while supporting responsible economic development.

EEP utilizes receipts from its programs to restore streams and wetlands where the need is greatest by working with state and local partners, including willing landowners. The N.C. Department of Transportation and other developers voluntarily use EEP to move projects forward in a timely and affordable manner.